Composition of liquid fertilizer

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a liquid fertiliser of mineral-organic origin, in which  aloe vera  and humic acid are used as a source of organic matter, to which is added iron, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, calcium and magnesium micronutrients in the form of soluble compounds, as well as a chelating agent and a surfactant to make the nutrients more available to the crops. The invention comprises a mineral-organic liquid fertiliser, the organic base of which is extracted from  aloe vera  and/or humic acid. The mineral is formed by different salts added so that the fertiliser contains the micronutrients essential for every type of soil (iron, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, calcium and magnesium). In addition, the fertiliser contains a chelating agent and a surfactant which improve the availability of the nutrients to the crops.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention refers to a liquid fertilizer of origin mineral and organic where it is used sabila and humic acid as source of organic matter, to which have been added the micronutrients iron, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, calcium and magnesium in form of soluble compound, furthermore of an chelating agent and a surface active agent to make that the nutrients are more assimilable for the cultivations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of fertilizers is essential for the good growth and the high production of the crops. Of the basic nutrients that the plants need to have a healthy development, most of the cultivations and soils require big quantities of nitrogen (of from NO₃ ⁻ or NH₄ ⁺), phosphor (of from H₂PO₄ ⁻), and potassium (of from K⁺) (Wichmann, W., et al, IFA World Fertilizer Use Manual). Such quantities of nitrogen, phosphor and potassium are provided mainly in form of mineral fertilizers, be already processed of natural or produced minerals chemically (K. F. Isherwood, 1998, Mineral Fertilizer Use and the Environment, United Nations Environmental Programme Technical Report No. 26). The development and use of the mineral fertilizers from the decade of the 1940's have allowed significant increments in the production of the crops.

In spite of the importance of the mineral fertilizers, in the last years the damage made to the atmosphere has been recognized by its use. The future challenge it is to use the fertilizer with more efficiency and the systems of integrated handling of the production provide a road toward the rationalization in the use of the inputs. (Fertilizer and the future, by Louise O. Fresco, Assistant Director-General, FAO Agriculture Department, http://www.fao.org/AG/magazine/wfspdf/0306sp1.pdf).

The mineral fertilizers, in occasions, they can damage to the soil. For example, the excessive use of the chemically synthesized nitrogen can inhibit the natural activity of the responsible microorganisms of fixing the nitrogen and, therefore, to diminish the natural fertility of the soil. The extensive use of the mineral fertilizers can cause contamination. For example, the nitrogen loss and phosphate of the fertilizers due to the erosion could contaminate soils and underground waters.

In the search of a solution to these problems, some Agricultural Engineers have recaptured the use of organic fertilizers or of the fertilizers in a half point between the minerals and the organics, the organic-minerals fertilizers, produced; by combining some minerals with organic matter coming mainly of plants and they have had very satisfactory results as for the enrichment of the plants and the soil.

Today in day, the organic fertilizers and the organic-minerals fertilizers can be made of matters varied cousins. Some of the first used materials were the municipal organic residuals due to their low cost and great macronutrients content, such it is the case of the U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,828,137 and 6,352,569. Other fertilizers use the cow manure, horse, chicken, lamb or pig like organic base, like in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,852,142. However, although the organic matter coming directly of the plants it is one of the more abundant, very few fertilizers use this source like base of their formulation. The present invention uses the sabila as source of its organic matter, furthermore other nutrients, for its fabrication.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention intends to provide an ecological fertilizer that promotes the growth of the cultivations and improve the quality of the crops and the characteristics of the soil.

The present invention consists on a liquid fertilizer that with-has organic matter and lignin; amino acids, nitrogen, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, boron, calcium, magnesium, humic acid, a chelating agent, a surface active agent and a conservative.

COMPONENT CONCENTRATION (%) Organic matter 25-35 Lignin 0.5-5  Amino acids 0.01-2   Nitrogen 1-6 Iron 1-6 Zinc 0.5-5  Manganese 0.5-5  Copper 0.1-2  Boron 0.01-3   Calcium 0.01-3   Magnesium 0.01-3   Humic acid 10-30 Chelating Agent 1-6 Surface active agent 1-6

The percentages in weight are based on the total weight of the fertilizer; where the organic matter is obtained of the sabila extract (Aloe Vera) and of the humic acid, the lignin of the sabila extract, the nitrogen source is from urea, the iron is from ferrous sulphate monohidrated, the zinc is from the zinc sulphate monohidrated, the manganese is from manganese sulphate monohidrated, the copper is from copper sulphate heptahidrated, the boron is from liquid fertilizer of Boron to 10%, the calcium is from the liquid fertilizer of calcium nitrate, the magnesium is from magnesium sulphate, the chelating agent such as epoxidated soybean oil, the surface active agent such as nonilphenol poliglicolic eter and the conservative such as formal.

The use of the sabila extract is one of the essentials characteristics of the invention, since it provides to the fertilizer organic matter and lignin of great importance for the soils, furthermore other essential nutrients as calcium, potassium, sodium, aluminum, iron, zinc, copper, chromium, phosphor and amino acids.

Furthermore the use of the extract of the sabila as source of natural organic matter is added liquid humic acid concentrated (humus) that gives bigger enrichment contribution to the soil in organic matter and more assimilation and exchange of nutrients in the soil

DESCRIPTION OF THE SABILA PLANT

The genus Aloe belongs to the tribe Aloineae of the family Liliaceae, which is a fundamentally African tribe, but some of the genus which comprise it can be found in any other part of the world, either for natural dispersion, or because they were introduced by its multiple advantages and actually they are being objects of commercial cultivation.

Of the genus Aloe they have been described 320 species approximately, among which it highlights the sabila (Aloe Vera (L) Burm.) (Table 1) In Mexico the most frequent cultivated species are: A. Vera and A. ferox.

The plants of this species are herbaceous of short shaft, vivacious, perennial, with aspect rosetted (basal rosettes) of grizzly green colour that presents reddish stains by the lingering exhibition to the sun. In their mature stage they end up measuring 65-80 cm of height.

ROOT. It is fairly superficial, with scaly structure.

LEAVES. They are lineal (long and narrow), acuminadas (finished in tip), the margins are thorny-jagged; of coriaceous texture (similar to the leather, resistant but flexible); succulent (juicy, fleshy); of 30-60 cm of longitude, they are usually cone-shape packed in a dense rosette; of intense colour in variable tones of green.

Taxonomic clasification Kingdom Vegetable Division Embriophyta-siphonogama Subdivision: Angiosperma Class Monocotiledoneae Order Liliales Family Liliaceae Subfamily Asfondeloideae Tribe Aloinaeae Genus Aloe Specie vera Synonymous barbadensis

INFLORESCENCE. Of 1-1.3 m of high, simple or barely ramified (one or two lateral ramifications).

FLOWERS. Of yellow-greenish colour; accompanied by a membranous bract, lanceolate (in form of lance tip—longer than wide—), of white, rosy colour, with dark lines of 6 mm; cylindrical, curved perianth, segment erect; stamens with 6 filaments, as long as the perianth anthers oblong base-fixed; ovary sésil, oblong-triangular, with several ova in each cavity; filiform style; small stigma.

The flowering happens in different times depending on the species, it can happen from the end of the winter until the summer.

FRUIT. It is a capsule loculisidal or septicidal, with inconsistents walls and it conforms to of three valves loculizadas, oblong and triangular.

This plant presents characteristic such as the succulency and its metabolism acid crasuláceo that indicate an important adaptation to areas characterized by the shortage of water.

The plants in wild state or generally naturalized form dense colonies, being the central plant the plant mother. Each plant produces 20 lateral rosettes on the average (sprouts) where difficultly reach the 40 cm of height.

Geographical Localization

In Mexico, the sabila can be found in almost the whole country, as of ornament in the domestic gardens and in some places as wild plants, they obtain in plantations.

Particularly, in the states of San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo, Tamaulipas and Guanajuato, the wild colonies of sabila are bigger. However, the natural populations of this genus have not been defined and quantified in our country.

For their easiness of adaptation and their properties the sabila has wakened up the interest like cultivation, there being you established plantations in 1,752 hectares of the country, of those which 780 (44.5%) they are of storm and the remaining ones 972 (55.5%) they understand watering cultivations. The distribution of the sabila in cultivation is given in the following table.

Cultivated surface of sabila by states (ha) Watering % Storm % Total % San Luis — — 362 46.5 362 20.66 Potosí Tamaulipas 946 97.3 418 53.6 1,364 77.85 Nuevo León 13 1.4 — — 13 0.74 Zacatecas 3 0.3 — — 3 0.19 Guanajuato 5 0.5 — — 5 0.28 Chiapas 5 0.5 — — 5 0.28 Total 972 780 1,752 Source: CONAZA, 1991

Previously plantations had been reported in Oaxaca, Yucátan, Sonora, Baja Calif. Sur and Veracruz, same that are not considered in the official information upgraded at 1993, being ignored the situation of such plantations.

In the agronomic area, the sabila juice has been used experimentally as repellent and insecticide in larvas present in some tuberous plants, being obtained very good results. In a same way the experimentation has been reported for the control of illnesses viral in potato, presenting an action inhibitory stocking in comparison with other extracts of vegetable origin. Reference: Indexes Http://www.sabilinaza.com/sabila.php

Chemical Composition of the Sabila

The species of the genus Aloe contains a mixture of glucosides called collectively Aloin, which is the active principle of the plant. The aloin content in the plant can vary according to the species, the region and the gathering time.

The main constituent of the Aloin is the barbaloin, a yellow pale soluble in water. Other constituents are the emodina isobarbaloin, betabarbaloin and resins. The characteristic scent of the plant is due to traces of an essential oil.

In a general way, the proportion of the compounds before mentioned it is the following one:

Two yellow brilliant, very active resins, possibly identical, soluble in bicarbonate of sodium, 30%.

A soluble very active resin in bicarbonate of sodium 6.8% Aloin, lightly active, 20.0%

Emodine, lightly active 1.5 to 1.8%

Substances inactive hidrosolubles, 15.2%

Amorphous substances that produce stomach alterations but that they don't arrive to the purgative effect, 5.1%

The different analyses carried out to the plant and their extract had allowed to know the nature of the substances that they compose it. Some of them are mentioned next.

-   -   Polysaccharides: glucose, mannose, galactose, xilose, arabinose     -   Acids: Glucuronic, citric, succinic, malic     -   Enzymes: oxidase, cellulose, bradiquinase, catalase, amilase     -   Tannins     -   Steroids     -   Proteins: only one, not hydrolyze, contains 19 amino acids     -   Biogenic stimulative     -   Saponin     -   Magnesium     -   Esterols: three

Chemical Composition of the Acibar or Sabila Juice

The acibar is the juice or perspired of the leaves of the sabila when these suffer wounded or they are practiced incisions. It presents an appearance mucilaginous, glutinous and of dark greenish yellow colour, it has a strong scent and of very bitter flavour.

The contained resin varies from 40 to 80% and it is composed of an ester of paracumaric acid and a resinic alcohol called Aloeresinetanol. The content of Aloin is, approximately, of 20% and when hydrolyzed the pentosides that contains, are obtained derived of the antraquinone.

The protein content in the juice is low (0.013%), it presents a composition of 18 amino acids; however it possesses a great quantity of vitamins and minerals. The vitamins found in the juice are A, C, E, and B-12, carotenes, folic acid, niacin, riboflavin and tiamin. In the case of the minerals they are reported: calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron, aluminum.

The sabila acibar contains 12 enzymes. These enzymes consist of a protein fraction or apoenzyme and a prosthetic group or coenzyme. The enzyme acts forming a complex with the skin (or “sustrate”), the part of the protein that unites to this becomes an active center; in most of the cases the action of the enzyme depends on the coenzyme and specifically for the sustrate type (open skin, hairy leather, etc.,) of the apoenzyme.

Extraction of the Acibar to Apply it to the Fertilizer

The process for the extraction of the juice, consists on subjecting to the leaves of Aloe to a court treatment, mill and compression so that you can extract the biggest quantity in possible juice and this way to be able to obtain the biggest use in the liquid fertilizer and in turn in the application to the field.

This process considers the following steps:

a) As first point it is the selection of the leaves they should be young leaves and they don't should dry with the purpose of that are richer in nutrients b) They intersect the thorns and that this dry one or under bad conditions c) Laundry of the selected leaves and very cut with detergent d) Laundry with water to eliminate the detergent e) It blunts of the leaves (manual) f) It cuts (manual) g) Mill with industrial blender h) Filtered for mesh of #110 i) Filtered for mesh of #325 j) The obtained juice is added to the previously formulated fertilizer k) It is packed in drums of 19 lt. for their sale and distribution

When an abundant quantity of organic matter is introduced in a soil where the concentration of difficultly assimilable materials is bigger than the easily degradable ones, immediately a great change takes place. The multiplication of the micro organisms of the soil suddenly increases in a prodigious way, with that which a quick energy liberation takes place in form of cations and anions and great detachment of anhydride carbonic. Finally, as the easily assimilable energy it is used and the nutrients reservations diminish, the microbial activity descends gradually. In this point they are in the soil simple products as nitrates, sulphates and humus (Buckman and Brady, 1991, Naturaleza y Propiedades de los Suelos).

Apart from the great energy contribution and of the detachment of CO₂, the decomposition of the organic matter gives place to the liberation of other important simple products as the carbon (in form of CO₂, carbonates and bicarbonates), nitrogen (in form of nitrates and ion ammonium), sulphur (in form of sulphates) and phosphor (in form of phosphates).

Another important product of organic dissolution is the humus that is a mixture of complex compounds, be already resistant material that have only been modified starting from the fabric vegetable native or compounds synthesized with microbial fabric with remains of dead organisms. The humus when it is saturated with ions H⁺, the assimilation of certain bases it increases as the Ca, K and Mg; being the humus-H the one that acts as ordinary acid and the one that reacts with minerals of the soil in the form required to extract their bases (Buckman and Brady, 1991, Naturaleza y Propiedades de los Suelos).

The lignin is one of the compounds main point of the organic matter as of the humus and it also plays an important paper in the soil. Because they are more resistant than other compounds they spread to persist in condition modified in the soil. The lignin is oxidized partially and the groups responsible for the cationic exchange increase in number.

The relationship in which they are the micronutrients is from supreme importance when speaking of fertilizers. For example, an excess of Cu, Mn or Zn can induce a deficiency of Fe, but in turn the Mn, in certain grade, helps to that the Fe is assimilated (Mortvedt, J. J., et al, 1982, Micronutrientes en Agricultura). It is for that reason that the proportions in those that are the micronutrients in this fertilizer have been evaluated being based on the experience in the use of fertilizers carefully.

Another significant characteristic of the fertilizer is the use of a chelating agent. The chelate increases the solubility of the metallic ions and they favourable their transport inside the plant. Furthermore, after binding to the metallic ion and later on to give it in the place where the plant requires it, the organic part of the chelate returns to solubilize more ions, that makes that the use of the micro nutrients of the soil is more lingering.

Another important aspect is the use of a surface active agent, since for its high one to be able to moist and its capacity of decreasing the superficial tension of the water, the assimilation of the nutrients is facilitated. On the other hand, due to their emulsificable power, it gives stability to the fertilizer.

THE BEST METHOD TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION Example 1

To produce 1000 liters of fertilizer they mix 67 Kg of ferrous sulphate monohidrated, 30 Kg of zinc sulphate monohidrated, 20 Kg of copper sulphate heptahidrated, 35 Kg of manganese sulphate monohidrated, 4 Kg of borax, 20 Kg of magnesium oxide, 70 Kg of chelant agent, 30 Kg of surface active agent, 70 Kg of urea, 1 Kg of amino acids, 30 Kg of sabila extract, 200 Kg. of humic acid, 6 Kg. of calcium nitrate, 4 Kg. of formal, 430 Kg. of water and 11 liters of antifoam, until obtaining a homogeneous mixture.

Example 2

The obtained fertilizer can be applied in several ways:

To the floor, of 10-30 Lts/Ha applying in band or spurt. To the watering, of 30-90 Lts/Ha. every 14 days or according to those requirements of the cultivation.

In the leak of 3 to 5 liters dosed in each application of the fertilizer watering program.

When applying 5 Lts/Ha to intervals of 6 days, in a cultivation of tomato (jitomate) during their development stage, differences significant were observed in the colour and size of the leaves of the cultivation, those with the leaves of the area witness (where fertilizer was not used)

With this dose they were possible to correct the micro elements deficiencies, however, effect some was not observed on the flowering.

Increasing the dose to 6-10 Lt/Ha leaving 8 days of rest among each application, they were possible to correct the deficiencies in young leaves, there were a good development and colour of the foliage, and, also, it improved the flowering and the quantity of fruits increased. 

1. A composition of liquid fertilizer comprising micronutrients, sabila extract (aloe vera), humic acid and urea.
 2. The composition of liquid fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the quantity of the components is also such that the components contribute organic matter in 25-35%, lignin in 0.5-5%, amino acids in 0.01-2%; nitrogen in 1-6%; iron in 1-6%; zinc in 0.5-5%, manganese in 0.5-5%, copper in 0.1-2%, boron in 0.01-3%, calcium in 0.01-3%, magnesium in 0.01-3%, humic acid in 10-30%, chelating agent in 1-6% and surfactant in 1-6%; with the percentages in weight with regard to the total weight of the fertilizer.
 3. The composition of liquid fertilizer of claim 2, wherein the quantity of organic matter is also obtained of the sabila extract (Aloe Vera) and of the humic acid, the lignin of the sabila extract, and the nitrogen source is from urea.
 4. The composition of liquid fertilizer of claim 1, comprising 67 Kg of ferrous sulphate monohidrated, 30 Kg of zinc sulphate monohidrated, 20 Kg of copper sulphate heptahidrated, 35 Kg of manganese sulphate monohidrated, 4 Kg of borax, 20 Kg of magnesium oxide, 70 Kg of chelating agent, 30 Kg of surfactant, 70 Kg of urea, 1 Kg of amino acids, 30 Kg of sabila extract, 200 Kg. of humic acid, 6 Kg. of calcium nitrate, 4 Kg. of formal, 430 Kg. of water and 11 liters of antifoam, for each a thousand liters of fertilizer.
 5. The composition of liquid fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the nitrogen is presented as urea.
 6. The composition of liquid fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the iron is ferrous sulphate monohidrated.
 7. The composition of liquid fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the zinc is zinc sulphate monohidrated.
 8. The composition of liquid fertilizer of the claim 1, wherein the manganese is manganese sulphate monohidrated.
 9. The composition of liquid fertilizer of the claim 1, wherein the copper is copper sulphate heptahidrated.
 10. The composition of liquid fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the boron is borax.
 11. The composition of liquid fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the calcium is nitrate of calcium.
 12. The composition of liquid fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the magnesium is magnesium oxide.
 13. The composition of liquid fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the chelating agent is soybean oil epoxidated.
 14. The composition of liquid fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the surfactant is nonil phenol poliglicolic ether.
 15. The composition of liquid fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the conservative is formal.
 16. The composition of liquid fertilizer of claim 2, comprising 67 Kg of ferrous sulphate monohidrated, 30 Kg of zinc sulphate monohidrated, 20 Kg of copper sulphate heptahidrated, 35 Kg of manganese sulphate monohidrated, 4 Kg of borax, 20 Kg of magnesium oxide, 70 Kg of chelating agent, 30 Kg of surfactant, 70 Kg of urea, 1 Kg of amino acids, 30 Kg of sabila extract, 200 Kg. of humic acid, 6 Kg. of calcium nitrate, 4 Kg. of formal, 430 Kg. of water and 11 liters of antifoam, for each a thousand liters of fertilizer. 